Free commuting involutions on closed two-dimensional surfaces

Abstract

We consider the function $f(g)$ that assigns to an orientable surface $M$ of genus $g$ the maximal number of free commuting independent involutions on $M$. We show that the surface of minimal genus $g$ with $f(g)=n$ is a real moment-angle complex $R_K$, where $K$ is the boundary of an $(n+2)$-gon. The genus is given by the formula $g = 1 + 2^{n-1}(n-2)$.